Machine for operating on tennis shoes



April 18, 1933. E. w. STACEY 1,903,849

MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON TENNIS SHOES Filed Sept. 26, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l April 18, 1933 E. w. STACEY MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON TENNIS SHOES Filed Sept. 26, 1929' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 18, 1933. E. w. STACEY 1,903,849

MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON TENNIS SHOES Filed Sept. 26, 1929 Patented Apr. 18, 1933 UNITED STATES ATENT- ERNEST w. STACEY, or BEVERLY, MA'ssAoiiUsE'r'rs, ASSIGNOR T6 UNITED siion MACHINERY CORPORATION, or FATE-RS011, NEWJERSEY, A GORPORATION on NEW- JERSEY Application filed September 26, 1929; Serial No. 395,280.

This invention' relates to the manufacture of shoes and is illustrated asembodied in a machine for operating on the edges of soles of shoes of the type known as tennis shoes.

In the manufacture of one type of such shoes an unvulcanized ou'tsole is attached to a lasted upper, the marginal portion of which adjacent to the sole usually carries'a' relatively narrow band of unvulcanized rubber called the foxing, with which the edge of the sole contiguous to the attaching face thereof is to be securely joined. The outsole is usually pressed against the exposed face of the sole portion of the lasted upper to insure its adhesion thereto by means of a press one part of which consists of'a pneumatic, hydraulic or other similar cushion abutment which, together with a cooperating element, forces the insole into intimate contact with the bottom,

of the lasted upper over the entire attaching face of the outsole.

This operation is not ordinarily relied upon, however,'to insure that the extreme marginal portion of the sole edge shall be completely joined with the adjacent portion ofthe foxing or upper, but is followed by an operation commonly performed by hand which consists in transferring the point of contactofa tool with the shoe about the sole edge in a path parallel to the attaching face thereof with a substantially constant pressure to insure that any crevice remaining between the sole edge and the upper after the above-mentionedpressing operation shall be closed, and to impart a series of indentations to the sole edge in the path followed by the closing tool to decorate the edge of the sole, This latter operation is known to those skilled in the art of making tennis shoes as sole edge closing;

It} is, therefore, a general object offthis invention to providenovel mechanism for closing the sole edges of rubbersoled shoes.

It is to be understood,'however, that the invention may have application in connection with operations other than sole edge closing which are performed at a location which will be termed hereinafter the foxing area, that' is, the portion of a shoe to which the foxing is to be fixed, or the exposed surface of the foxing on a shoe, and the contiguous sole edge. The sole of a shoe, being unvulcani'zed whenprepared for the reception of the soleclosing operation, has relatively little resilience and hence can not offer great resistance to an object tending to change its shape, nor Wlll 1t resume its original shape after being deformed. Furthermore, the extent of deformation of such a soleedgeat any point when operated on by atool held thereagainst 1s a function of both the timeduring which the tool s allowed to act and the pressure of the tool on the sole edge at that point. It;

to cause a relative movement between the sole edge of a rubber shoe and a tool for closing the edge against the upper, in which relativev movement the point of contact of the tool with the work is transferred around the sole edge at asubs'tant'ially constant linear Velocity whereby uniform tre'at-. ment of the sole edge, from the standpoint of the duration of the application ofthe requisite pressure, is insured.

In accordance with this object of the invention, the illustrated machine is provided with a work support one portion of which has a configuration similar to that of the fore and heel parts of the sole being operated on and which latter portion isconstruc'ted and arrange'dto be presented in tangential driving engagement with adriving meansopcrating at a constant velocity infa rectilinear path. In the illustrated machine the driv-c in meshing engagement with sprockets integral with said support, which sprockets have substantiallythe same radius of cur'vature as the toe and'heel portions, respective- 7 ly, ofshoes of the class operated on in' the machine and which sprockets may adjustably spaced in accordance with the longitudinal dimension of the work whereby the configuration of the work and the effective form of the sprocket element of the support may be made substantially the same irrespective of the size of the shoe to be operated on. As a result of the above construction the illustrated work support is rotated (while the toe and heel portions of the sole edge are being operated on) and translated (while the side portions are being operated on) in alternation with the rotary movements, whereby all normals to the periphery of the sole of the shoe at the point of operation I of the tool thereon are substantially coincident.

Since the driven portion of the work support as herein illustrated is substantially the same in shape and size as the horizontal projection of the sole, it is apparent that the point of operation of the tool on the work is substantially fixed with respect to the point of tangency between the work support and the drive chain. It follows, therefore, that a tool held against the sole edge of a shoe on the support does not require to be moved substantially in order to be held in contact with the sole edge as the latter is progressively presented to the tool.

Accordingly, the relation between the thrust of the tool and the direction of the sole edge at the point of operation of the tool thereon remains substantially the same throu hout the treatment of the sole edge where y the uniform treatment of the sole edge, from the standpoint of the application of a constant pressure, is insured.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means, in a machine having a shoe support arranged for movement in order to present successive portions of the foX- ing area to the tool, for clamping and re leasing a lasted shoe on the support. In accordance with this object of the invention the illustrated clamping mechanism comprises a heel clamp arranged normally to grip the shoe on the support, a movable bar carried by the support for operating the clamp, and means for releasing the clamp comprising an operator controlled plunger arranged for movement into and out of engagement with said bar. Invention is to be recognized also in the provision of means for arresting the movement of the support when said bar and plunger are in operative relation. The position of the support when its movement has thus been arrested is termed herein its work receiving position. That is, a shoe having been operated upon is unjacked and replaced by a shoe to be operated upon when the support is in this position.

The heel part tread faces of soles for rubber-soled shoes of the type operated on in the illustrated machine are usually uniformly curved in all directions toward the edges from a point in the center. Similarly, the tread faces of the foreparts of such soles are also slightly curved transversely of the sole substantially uniformly between the shank and toe portions and to approximately the same degree as that to which the tread face of the heel is curved. Moreover, the tread face of the for-epart of the sole is given an additional curvature longitudinally thereof which corresponds to the natural curvature of the foot across the ball from the arch to the toes and which is appreciably greater than that found in any transverse section of the sole. Therefore, the inclination of the marginal portion of the forepart tread face to a tangential plane is variable, is great-er at the toe and gradually diminishes toward the ball line, beyond which line it increases slightly up to the shank portion. IVith this in view, it is apparent that a guide having point contact with the tread face of a sole such as above described at a constant distance from the edge thereof will cause a relative heightwise displacement of the tools with respect to the sole edge as their point of contact with the sole is transferred about the forepart thereof. If such an action of sole edge treating tools were not anticipated and considered in the design of the illustrated guides, it is also apparent that the operating tools in the illustrated machine would not follow the contour of the edge of the sole at the attaching face thereof, they should, to fulfill their sole edge closing function most effectively.

In view of the above, it is another object of the invention to provide improved guiding means for insuring that the operating tools shall be constrained in a path at all points equidistant from the attaching face thereof, irrespective of changes in the inclination of the margin of the tread face of the sole (along normals to the sole edge) by which the heightwise position of the tools is con trolled. In accordance with this object of the invention, the work-engaging surface of the illustrated guide has such a shape that as the point of contact between the guide and the tread face of the sole varies toward and away from the sole edge while the points of contact of the tools and the shoe are transferred about the sole edge thereof the length of the vertical projection of the distance between the point of contact of the guide and the sole and that of the operating tools and the sole edge changes in accordance with the change in the corresponding distance between the point of contact of the guide with the sole and the edge of the sole. To this end, a guide is provided having a convex surface of revolution each element of which is the envelope of a family of lines bearing the same relation to a given line and a point in it as that which each of a series of tan gents to the thread face of the sole, at the work engaging surface such' as above dethe tread face of the sole and a pointin it:

representing the respective points of intersection of the normalplanes and the sole edge. By the use of a guide having a convex fined withsole edge treating tools, the tools are constrained in a path at all points equi distant from the attaching face of the sole irrespective of the above-mentioned changes in the inclination of the tread face thereof.

The operating tools in the illustratedmachine are rotatably supported and are rotated about their own axes by their contact with the sole edge of the shoe being'operated upon when relative movement occurs between it and the tools. In order that the'tools-shall not tend to run from the path which it is intended they shall follow it is apparentthat a central plane through the periphery ofthe tools must alway'sextend in the same direction as the sole edge ofthe work at the points being operated on by the respective tools. It

is, therefore, another object of the invention to provide a mounting for the operating tools which, in cooperation with the above-men-.

tioned guides, is constructed and arranged to allow the operating tools to adjust themselves to the edge of the sole being operated upon by the action of the guides'in such a manner that their axes of rotation arealways perpendicular to the edge of the sole adjacent to their points of contact with the sole. To this end and in accordance with the above object of the invention, the illustrated mounting for the tools is rotatably supported to turn' about an axis, perpendicular to the axesof w rotation of the operating tools, which, when the tools are in operative relation with the work, is in a plane substantially parallel to a plane tangent to the central portion of the forepart tread face of the sole. To assist in maintaining this latter relation of the tools and the sole edge the guiding means comprises a pair of guiding elements each of which is constructed as defined above. and which are spaced one at each side of the 1 above-mentioned axis of rotation of the face of the sole, whereby they will always tend to run in a path parallel to the edge of theattaching face of the sole adjacent to the points on the sole edge beingoperated'on The shank portions of soles used on rubber-soled shoes, not being subjected toa great amount of wear, are usually appreciably thickness.

thinner than the fore or heel part portions of the sole. It is apparent that when shoes having such soles are operated on in the illustrated machine provision must be made for decreasing the distance between the tread face of the sole at the shank and the path of the tools in order that the path of the tools at the shank portion of the sole shall bear the same relation to the edge of the attaching face thereof as it does at other portions of the sole. In view of the above and in accordance with another object of the invention, the support for the tools is provided with a pair of auxiliary guides arranged to operate as the tools 7 pass the shank portion of the sole being operated on, and to raise the tools with respect to the tread face of the sole by an amount.

substantially equal to the diminution in its The auxiliary guides as illustrated are arranged for adjustment both laterally and toward and away from said firstmentioned guides whereby the operation of the tools may be controlled as desired at the shank portion of soles of any dimensions.

It is another object of the invention to pro vide a support for the operating tools arf ranged to insure that the pressure which holds. them in operative relation with the sole edge of the shoe being operated on, shall not be applied exclusively to either tool. In accordance with this object of the invention the mounting for the tools is freely rotatable about an axis disposed between the tools and parallel with their axes of rotation. It is now apparent that the mounting for the operating tools may rotate about either of two i perpendicular axes allowing the operating tools under control of the guides above mentioned to be maintained 1n a relation of parallelism with the sole edge and are also held against the sole edge with substantially equal pressures. As a result of the above construction, the mounting for the tools is also maintained in a normal relation with the sole edge as the points of contact of the tools therewith are transferred thereabout.

To facilitate the replacement of the. tools in operative relation to the sole edge of a shoe to be treated after they have been removed from a shoe having been treated it is desirable that their motion when moved from and to the operative position be constrained in a definite path. Therefore, it is another object "pied when being removed from the sole edge of the shoe last operated on. To this end the illustrated means for retracting the operating tools from the sole edge and returning them thereto comprises a lever having a toothed abutment at one end arranged to em gage a correspondingly toothed abutment on the support for the operating tools, said abutments preventing any relative heightwise displacement between the support for the tools and the lever whereby the guides for the tools are brought into engagement with the cooperating marginal tread portion of the sole tangentially thereof. Another feature of the invention consists in the provision of means for holding the operating tools when removed from the sole ecge in the same position with respect to the mount ng which they last occupied when in contact with the work. This means, as illustrated, is constructed and arranged to prevent the rotation of the mounting for the tools when out of contact with the shoe about either of the perpendicular axes about which the mounting may turn to allow the tools to be held in operative position with respect to the sole edge.

These and other features of the invention will now be more particularly described in connection with the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a machine embodying the present invention with some parts shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the machine as seen from above and from the front thereof:

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the machine as seen from above and from the rear thereof;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the operating tools and their mounting showing the tools in operative relation with the shank portion of a shoe being operated on;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the operating tools as illustrated in Fig. 4 but showing the operative relation of the tools with the toe portion of a shoe (full lines) and also with side of theforepart portion (broken lines) and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective and partly in section, the section being along the line VIVI of Fig. 1.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises awork support having jacking mechanism for clamping thereto a lasted shoe to be operated on. The support is arranged in conjunction witl appropriate driving mechanism to be so moved that the sole edge of a shoe held on the support is caused progressively to be carried past substantially a fixed point at a constant linear velocity. As a piece of work is thus moved a sole edge treating instrumentality is held in engagement with the edge of the sole adjacent to the foxing and is constructed and arranged to close it against the fearing with one traverse of the sole edge and simultaneously to impart a series of decorative indentations to imitate stitching in a line parallel with the edge of the sole at the attaching face there'- of. The operating tools are arranged to be urged against the sole edge to be operated on and are so mounted that they adjust themselves to changes in the contour of the sole, and guiding elements arranged to contact with the tread face thereof maintain the operating tools at the required distance from the tread face of the sole insuring that the line of stitching shall be parallel to the edge of the attaching face thereof. The mounting for the operating tools is also so supported that it may be moved heightwise of the shoe and toward and away from the sole edge substantially horizontally in order that the operating tools may be held in operative relation with the sole edge of the shoe bein operated on irrespective of changes in the contour of the sole edge. Means is also provided for retracting the operating tools from the sole of a shoe which has been treated, against the resilient pressure above mentioned, to facilitate the removal of the shoe on which the operation has been completed and readily to allow the operating tools to move to their operative position with respect to a difi'erent piece of work which is to receive the sole edge treating operation.

The toe portion of a lasted shoe 10 which is to receive the sole edge treating operation is supported by an arm 12 of a support 14 which rests on a table 16 held at a convenient height from the floor by means of a standard 18. A wad of resilient material 20 is received in a recess in the upper portion of the arm 12 to provide a cushion abutment for the toe portion of the lasted shoe. The heel portion of the lasted shoe is carried by a support 22 on which a knurled stud 24 (Fig. 1) is pivoted at 26 and is normally held in upright position by means of a helical spring 28. As shown in Fig. 1, the stud 24 is made of such a size as to fit closely within the thimble ordinarily found in the heel portion of a last. The supports 14 and 22 may be held in spaced relation in any desired position of adjustment by means of a U-shaped bar 30 which is fixed to the support 22 and which is arranged to slide within the support 14 and to hold the supports in alinement. A sliding pin 82 (Figs. 2 and 3) in the support 14 is arranged to engage within any of the series of holes 34 in the bar, thereby to lock it to the support 14 in any position desired, the purpose of which adjustment will become apparent hereinafter. A lasted shoe having been placed on the supports so that the stud 24 extends into the thimble and the toe portion thereof rests on the abutment 20, it is firmly held on the support by a clamp 36 having two plates 38 arranged to engage the back and sides of the heel portion of the lasted shoe. The clamp 36 is provided with a pair of arms 40 which, at the lower ends thereof, are pivoted on a screw 42 to a bracket 44 which may be clamped to the su port 22 'slide'fiO which is Connected to the clamp 36' by means of links 52 pivoted to the clamp by means of a pin 54. Each of the links 52 has a series of perforations corresponding to those in the bar to allow the effective length of the links to be varied in accordance with the distance between the supports 14 and 22. The links :52 are locked to the head of the'slide in any, desired position by means of spring-pressed pins 56 (Fig. 6) whichslide crosswise of the head of the slide 50 and are arranged to engage within whichever perforations in the link 52 are in alinement therewith. To facilitate this adjustment the pins 56are provided with thumb levers 58 which extend out of the head 0f the slide ,50 and which, when the pins v56 are retracted, may bearagainst shoulders 60 in the head of the slide 50 to hold the pins in retracted position until they are released by the operator. One end of the spring 48 is arranged to abut thebottom of a recess 62 in the arm 12 and its pressure is imparted to the slide 5O and hence to the links 52 and the clamp 36 through a bushing 64 which is arrang-ed to slide freely in the support 14 and which abuts a nut 66 threaded on the shank of the slide 50. 'It will now be apparent that the clamping pressure may be varied by adjustment of the nut 66. It may furtherbe noted that, owing to the manner in which the clamping pressure is applied to the lasted shoe, the shoe will be urged in a counterclockwise direction of rotationabout the pivot 26 as a center. When such a motion is-arrested, however, by the abutment 20, and owing to the eccentric applicatlon of force by the clamp 36, the stud 24 grips the thimble of the lasted shoe at opposite sides of the top and bottom portion thereof, forming a bite between the stud andthe thimble which prevents a heightwise displacement of the heel portion of the lasted shoe with respect to the support 22 while it is clamped thereon; I

It is apparent from the-above description of the work clamping mechanism that the lasted shoe is normally heldclamped on the support. To remove a shoe which has been operated on and to allow the substitution of another to be operated on, it is necessary to retract the clamp 36 by overcoming the pressure of the spring 48 which, in the illustrated machine, is relatively strong. To assist in this operation the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a treadle-operated mech anism which may be operated to relieve the clamping pressure from the shoe. This mechanism, as illustrated, comprises a p unger 68' which is arranged to abut the adjacent end of the slide 50 and which is also arranged to slide in a guide 7 0 fixedto a supporting bar 72 carried by the table 16. The plunger 68 is operated by one arm 74 of a bell-crank lever pivoted on a bracket 7 6 at tached to the under side of the table 16, the other arm 78 of which bell-crank is connected to a treadle 80 by means of an adjustable 7 rod 82. The treadle 80 is arranged to rotate on a pin 84 supported by a yoke 86 attached to the base 18 of the machine and is normally urged toward an upward position by means of a spring 88 connecting an intermediate.

portion of the treadle to the upper part of the base 18inside thereof. It will now be support-it will be necessary only to depress the treadle whereby the plunger 68 is caused treadle, the s ide 50 is moved tothe right as seen in Fig. 1 against the pressure ofthe spring 48, thereby retracting the clamp 36 from the heel portion of the lasted shoe and allowing the operator to remove a shoe which has been operated upon from thesupport and to substitute a'shoe to receive the sole edge treating operation without the intervention of the clamp36. i V

A piece of work to be operated'on having been clamped on the work support, the'oporator will next, in the ordinary operation of the machine, actuate the driving mechanism which, in the illustrated machine, imparts alternately rotary and translatory movements to the shoe support, therotary movements occurring as the operating tools pass the toe and heel portions of the sole and the translatory movements occurring'as the operating tools traverse the inner and outer sides of the sole edge. The movement of the work support is controlled by means of a stud 90 which is firmly fixed in and extends upwardly from the table 16. The stud 9O guides the work support by slidingengagement with the sides of the bar 8O, the head of the stud being arranged to overlie the upper surfaces of the bar 30 which also slidably engages the upper portion of a bushing 92 surrounding the stud 90 above the table 16. It wiil now be apparent that the stud 90 holds the supports against the table 16 and will allow the supports either torotate or to slide over the top of the table 16, but, as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter, themotion of the work support is so constrained that at'any time it may only be rotated or translated and, as the illustrated machine is apparent that to unclamp a lasted shoe on the port through a series of sprocket teeth on each of the supports 14 and 22. One end of the looped chain 94 is passed around an idling sprocket wheel 96 journaled at one side of the table 16 on the lower end of a shaft 98 which is clamped to one side of the table 16 by means of a bracket 100. At the other end of the loop of the chain 94 it passes around a driving sprocket 102 which is rotatably mounted on a shaft 104 j ournaled in a bearing 106 extending from the side of the table 16 opposite the bracket 100. lVhile the machine is in use the shaft 104 is continuously rotated by means of a worm 108 which engages with a worm gear 11.0 fixed to the lower end of the shaft 104. The worm 108 is carried by a shaft 112 which is journa ed below the table 16 in a support 114 and is driven by a belt 116 which runs over a pulley 118 which is fixed to the shaft 112 and which may be driven by any suitable source of power such as an electric motor 120, as is used in the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Since successive sole edge treating operations are interrupted by intervals during which a treated piece of work is being removed from the work support and an untreated piece of work is being clamped thereto, the operation of the work support and hence the motion of the chain 94 is intermittent; but a part of the chain driving mechanism comprising the shaft 104 operates continuously. It is therefore apparent that some sort of power-transmitting slip joint is necessary between the chain 94 and the shaft 104. In the illustrated machine such a device is comprised of a friction disk 122 in splined relation to the shaft 104. A spring 124 surrounding the shaft 104 may be ad justed by means of a nut 126 to provide any desired amount of pressure between the friction disk 122 and a corresponding disk 128 integral with the sprocket wheel 102. A wear-resisting washer 130 is interposed between the friction disks 122 and 128 to insure a steady exertion of pressure to the chain 94. The shoe support is prevented from rotating, while a shoe having been operated upon is being removed from the work support and another replaced thereon, by means of a plunger 132, which is slidably mounted in a guide 134 attached to the lower side of the supporting bar 72. When the work support is in work receiving position, a pin 136 fixed in the support 14 is arranged to abut the adjacent end of the plunger 132, thereby overcoming the tendency of the chain 94 meshing with the sprocket teethon the support 14 to rotate the work support in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. It will be understood that, as above noted, during the period when the treated work is taken from the work support and work to be treated is placed thereon, the chain 94 is stationary and relative motion is occurring between the friction disks 122 and 128. The work support driving mechanism is actuated by the retraction of the plunger 132 from engagement with the pin 136. This is effected by the operator who, upon pressing against a pad 138 which is fixed tothe end of a rod 140 slidably mounted in the standard 18 and an arm 142 extending downwardly from the frame 114, overcomes the force of a spring 144 and operates a lever 146 pivoted at 148 in a clockwise direction. This motion of the lever 146 is imparted to the plunger 132, carrying it out of contact with the pin 136, by means of a link 150 pivoted at one end to the lever 146 and at its other end to a lever 152 which is pivoted on the lower end of a pin 154 extending downwardly from the supporting bar 72, the lever 152 being connected at its other end to the plunger 132. The pressure on the pad 138 which results in the actuation of the work support need only be momentary or long enough to allow the pin 136 to pass the retracted plunger 132, and when the pressure as applied by the operator is relieved from the pad 138 the spring 144 returns the plunger 132 through the connecting mechanism into the path of the pin 136, whereby the motion of the work support is intercepted at the end of a complete cycle, the character of which will now be described.

When a cycle of the motion of the work support is initiated, the support is in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 and its first movement is one of rotation bodily about the stud 90 as an axis, it being noted that the sprocket teeth on the support 14 are held in mesh with the chain 94 by means of a shoulder 156 on the support 14, which at this stage of the cycle abuts the top of the stud 90, and a space bar 158 between the sides of the loop of the chain 94 which prevents its displacementaway from the stud 90 beyond the line of the ad- ]acent edge of the spacer bar 158. The Work support is thus caused first to rotate substantially through ninety degrees and hence until the sprocket teeth at a side of the support 22 are brought into meshing engagement with the chain 94. After the work support has thus been rotated, the slot between the arms of the U-shaped bar 30 is disposed in parallel relation with the chain 94 and hence the work support is free to slide over the table 16 in a straight line parallel with the chain 94, the adjacent sprocket teeth on the sides of the supports 14 and 22 nearer the chain 94 still remaining in meshing engagement therewith. Such a translatory movement follows and is continuous with the previously described rotary movement of the shoe support which is guided by the stud 90, insuring that the sprocket teeth on the supports 14 and 22 will be held in engagement with the chain 94. Following the last-mentioned translator-y movement of the work support it is caused to rotate bodily again about the stud 90 with the teeth on the support 22 under the heel portion of the lasted shoe engaging with the chain 94. The rotation of the work support about the heel portion occurs through a halfrevolution and is continuous with the preceding translatory motion. Therotary movement of the work support about the heel portion is also followed by a translatory mo tion which occurs in' the same manner'as that first described, and at the end of the last-mentioned translatory movement and continuously therewith the work support is rotated again through an angle of ninety degrees when the pin 136 is again brought into abutting relation with the plunger 182. It should be noted that during the periods when the work support is rotated the toe and heel portions are being operated on, and during the periods when the work support is translated the sole edges between the toe and heel portions thereof are being treated. It will now be apparent that if the ends of the supports 14 and 22 which carry the sprocket teeth are given substantially the same, radii of curvature as the corresponding peripheries of the toe and heel portions of a shoeto be operated upon and if they are spaced by a distance equal substantially to the length of the shoe being operated on, all parts of the sole edge will pass substantially the same point. Also, when the work support is properly adjusted, its periphery corresponds in extent substantially to that of the periphery of the sole edge to be treated, and since the chain 94- moving at substantially a constant velocity engages tangentially with the work support, it is apparent that the periphery of the sole edge to be treated likewise will move with respect to the operating tools at substantially a constant linear velocity. WVhen a lasted shoe to be treated is placed on the support, the ef fective length of the bar 30 should be adjusted so that the toe of the shoe is as nearly as possible directly over the corresponding end of the support 14: or, in other words, the distance between the extremes of the supports 1 1 and 22 should be substantially equal to the length of the sole being operated on. It is also obvious that the spacing of the perforations in the bar 30 must conform to the pitch of the sprocket chainso that the sprocket teeth on both the supports l i-and 22 in any adjusted position will be in meshing engagement with the chain during the translatory movementof the work support.

The tools provided in the illustrated machine for operating on the sole edge of the work'comprise a closing tool 160 and a stitching tool'162 which are rotatably mounted on levers 164 and 166 pivotally mounted at one end of a block 168 by means of a pin 170'. The block 168, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, may be adjusted vertically with respect to a head 172 upon a spindle l'Tiby means of. a

set-screw 176. The spindle 174 is rotatably supported in a bracket 178 carrying a spindle 180 disposed at right angles to the spindle 174. The spindle 180 is rotatably engaged within a bearing 182 integral with the end of an arm 184 of a bent lever which is mounted to rotate about a pin 186 in a plane parallel to that of the table 16, which pin extends between thesides of a yoke 188 rotatably mounted in the end of the shaft 98. A spring 190 connects an end of the other arm 192 of the bent lever and the top of a pin 194 fixed to the table 16 and thus urges the closing and stitching tools 160 and 162 against the edge of the sole being operated on. The operation of the closing and stitching tools is controlled by guide rollers 196 which gage the distance from the tread face of the sole at which the closing and stitching tools are operated. The illustrated rolls 196 which are .rotatably mounted on an extension of the head 172 are also disposed so that their axes are oblique to a normal to the sole edge passing through the point of contact of the rolls with the tread face of the sole. to this construction in which those elements of the guiding rolls which are in contact with the tread face of the sole are also oblique to the direction of feed of the work, the closing and stitching tools are frictionally forced against the sole edge by relative motion between the tread face of the sole and the guide rolls 196 in contact therewith. It will now v be apparent that by making the adjustment the'forepart being illustrated by broken'lines,

tangents to the tread face of the sole and normal to the edge thereof are disposed at var1- ous angles with respect toa horizontal plane.

It follows then that if the operating tools were guided as they traverse a sole edge by a guiding means arranged to contact with the tread face of the sole at a'constant distance from the solo edge, the path along which the operating tools would contact with the sole edge would e relatively close to the tread face of the sole at the toe while spaced at the desired distance from the edge of the tread face of the sole at other portions of the shoe. To compensate for this relatively extreme curvature of the sole of a shoe at the toe portion thereof as well as other relatively sharply curved portions of the sole edge in the vicinity of the shank, the illustrated guiding rolls 196 have rounded work-engaging surfaces approximating the shape of a cone all elements of which are slightly .convex.- It

Owing F will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 5 that the tread face of the toe portion of the shoe in engagement with the guide rolls 196, while somewhat higher with respect to the operating tools than is the edge of the sole of the shoe illustrated in broken lines, engages with the guide rolls 196 at a higher point on its periphery with respect to the operating tools than does the latter, thereby insuring that the operating tools will engage the edge of the attaching face of the sole at all portions thereof about the shoe irrespective of the inclination of the tread face of the sole.

Provision is made in the illustrated ma chine for acconnnodating local variations in the thickness of the sole by allo "ing the supporting levers 16 i and 166 resiliently to yield toward and away from the respective adjacent guide rolls 196. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention this means comprises helical springs 198 and 200 which abut opposite sides of the intermediate portion of the levers 164: and 166 and which are constrained by bolts 202 having nuts 204: on their lower ends by means of which the heightwise position of the respective operating tools and the compression in the springs 200 and 198 may be regulated. Slight variations in the thickness of a sole will immediately be compensated for by a corresponding rotation of the lever 164: or 166 caused by the tendency of the respective operating tool to fill the hollow between the sole edge and the adj accnt portion of the foxing. It may be further noted that the springs 198 and 200 will tend to return the operating tools to the normal operating position after any displacement thereof in either direction. The soles of such shoes as are operated on by the present machines are ordinarily of the same thickness at the heel and toe portions but are appreciably reduced at the shank. The path along which the operating tools travel is therefore not always equidistant from the tread face of the sole. It will now be apparent, however, that ":f the guide rolls 196 were relied upon entirely to control the heightwise position of the operating tools 160 and 162, the closing tool might ride oil the edge of the sole and the stitching wheel likewise at the shank portion of the work, owing to the appreciable diminution in thickness of the sole at that point. To obviate this possibility and to insure that the operating tools will continue to operate on the sole edge at the shank portion as they do at the heel and toe portions while being controlled by the guide rolls 196, additional guiding means is provided to raise the operating tools slightly with respect to the tread face of the sole to compensate for the decrease in its thickness at the shank. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention this means comprises a pair of balls 206 which are rotatably mounted in retainers 208, both of which may be adjusted heightwise with respect to the guide rolls 196 and may be brought into adjusted position by means of nuts 210 threaded to the shanks of the retainers 208. The retainers are carried by arms 212 which may be adjustably clamped to the head 172 by means of bolts 21% which are threaded into the head and which extend through elongated slots in the arms 212 which allow a translatory adjustment of the position of the balls 206 as well as one of rotation. The guiding balls 206 are spaced from the adjacent guiding rolls 196 at a sufficient distance sidewise thereof so that as the operating tools approach the shank portion of the sole being operated on, the ball guides 206 span the relatively thin shank por ion of the sole and thus maintain the operating tools substantially at the edge of the attaching face of the sole as soon as the operating tools guided by the rolls 196 tend to drop, owing to the decreased thickness of the shank portion of the sole. It will now be apparent, particularly with reference to Fig. i, that by properly adjusting the balls both heightwise and sidewise with respect to the operating tools and the guide rolls the latter are rendered inoperative to guide the operating tools along the edge of the attaching face of the sole being operated on at the shank portion thereof while at other points in the sole treating operation the balls are rendered inoperative by the guiding rolls 196 owing to the convexity of the tread face of the sole.

It will be understood that the pivotal connection of the yoke 188 in the shank 98 allows the operating tools to swing in a plane parallel to that of the table 16 to accommodate changes in the contour of the sole, as indicated by its horizontal projection, and the pivotal connection of the bent lever 18t192 on the pin 186 supported by the yoke 188 will allow a bodily pivotal movement of the operating tools in conformity with such changes in the contour of the edge of the sole being operated on as would be indicated by its vertical projection. The pivotal connection of the spindle 180 of the bracket 178 in the arm 184 insures that the operating tools will assume a relation of normality with the sole edge against which the tools are urged both by the spring 190 and the action above described resulting from the obliquity of the guide rolls 196. Similarly the pivotal mounting of the operating tools in the bracket 178 on the spindle 174: insures that the tools will tend to assume a relation of parallelism with the tread face of the solo at the point of operation owing both to the weight of the operating tools and their mounting which tends to hold the guide rolls 196 or the balls 206 against the tread face of the sole and also the action of a spring 216 connecting the arm 184C with the supporting bar 72 which tends resiliently to hold the guiding elements in contact with the work. When the machine is operated it is customary for the operator to remove the tools: from the edge of a shoe havingbeen operated on to facilitate its removal from the work support, and it is obvious'that for facilitating the replacementof the operating tools against a new'piece'of work to be operated on it is desirable to hold the operating tools. in the same position as that in which they were removed from the work last operated on, and that they be brought 224. It will be understood that, as shown in Fig. 5, thejdisk 218. is so clamped to the spindle '174that clearance is provided between the serrations on the disk and the pin 220 when the tools are inoperative position,

thereby allowing them; to turn freely in accordance with changesin the contour of the sole. as not to-interfere with the operation of The spring 224 is relatively weak so the spring 190whjich holds the operating tools against the sole edge to be operated on, but this spring is of sufiicient strengthto move the spindle 174 in its bearing in the bracket 178 when the operating tools are moved from the work until the pin 220 is engaged within an adjacent serration on the disk 218 to hold the operating tools with respect to the bracket 17 8; after they. have been removed from the work in the same position which they occupied when last in contact with the work. Similarly a disk 226is set on the spindle 180 at such a point that clearance is providedbetween the serrations on its edge face and a pin 228 fixed in a flange 230 integral with the bearing 182 when the tools are inoperative position, as illustrated in Fig. 5, thereby allowing the operating tools to rotate freely with respect to the bearing 182 in order that they may assume a relationofnormality with the sole edge. Assoon asthe operating tools are removed from the sol-e edge, however, the

weightof the bracket 17 8 and the mechanism,

carried thereby will cause the pin 228 to be.-

come engaged within a serration on the disk 226, thereby holding the bracket 178 with respectto the bearing 182 in whatever position it occupied at the instant the operating tools and the guiding members were removed from the work. a

7 To remove the operating tools from the work and'to facilitate their replacement on a new piece of work, mechanism is provided comprising a lever 232 pivotally mounted on a bracket234 supported by the bar 72 and which lever is arranged to bemovedin a counterclockwise direction, as show-n in Fig. 3, to engage with a porti'on'of the arm 184 to remove the tools from the work and simultaneously to sustain them heightwise of the sole. The means'for accomplishing the latter result comprises a toothed abutment 236 which is rotatably mounted on a bracket 238fixed to the arm 184. A similarly toothed abutment 240 is pivoted to the upper extremityof thelever 232 and is continually held in a vertical position by the weighted lower end thereof. It will now be apparent that when the lever232 is moved so that the abutments 236 and 240 come into engagementowing to the interengagement of the toothed portions thereof, a relative vertical movement of the arm 184 and the lever 232 is prevented, and that the operating tools are brought into juxtaposition with a new piece of work at the same altitude'in which they were when removed from the work previously operated on. The lever 232 is operated by the treadle and is connected to the treadleoperated mechanism by means of a link 242 pivotally connected to the lever 232 atone end and pivoted at its other'end to a lever 244 which is fixed to the shaft carrying the bell-crank 74, 78. It'will benoted' from Fig. 3 that the arms of the lever 232 are. adjustable and that they may be clamped in any position of angular adjustment by' means of a bolt 246 whichpasses through a slot. in the lower arm of the lever and which is threaded into the upper arm thereof. By

ment of the arm 184 in a. counterclockwise a" direction as seen in Fig. 2 when the machine is idle. j

In theoperation of the: machine, let it be assumed that the instrumentalities thereof first be in the positions shown in Fig. 2. There being no work clamped on the work support at this time, the arm 184 is constrained from moving downwardly by the toothed abutment 240 on the lever 232 engaging the corresponding abutment 236 on ing movement of the instrumentalities is that of clamping a piece of work to be operated on to the work support. To facilitate this operation, the operator first depresses tlre treadle 80, thereby overcoming the force of the springs 48 and 88 and rotating the work clamp 36 to an extreme right-hand position as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. This movement of the treadle 80 results also in a counterclockwise motion of the lever 232, insuring the retraction of the operating tools from the vicinity later to be occupied by the toe portion of the shoe to be operated upon. A lasted shoe to be treated is brought to the work support tread face up and is presented to the work support so that the stud 24 is engaged within the thimble in the heel portion of the last for the shoe and the shoe, having been so placed on the support, will be supported by the stud at its heel portion and at its toe portion by the abutment provided by the arm 12.

The next operation consists in ascertaining that the work support is properly adjusted. If the extreme distance between the portions of the work supports 14. and 22 which engage the chain 94 is not substantially equal to the length of the sole of the shoe being operated on, then the pin 32 is removed from engagement with a perforation in the bar 30 and the support 22 carrying the heel portion of the shoe is moved toward or away from the support 14 until the condition above referred to is established or until the periphery of the toe portion of the shoe is directly over the teeth of the sprocket portion of the support 14. The pin 32 is then inserted in the perforation in the bar 30 which most nearly insures the work supports being held in the desired relative position. The effective length of the links 52 may then be varied in accordance with the adjusted positions of the work supports 14 and 22 in order most efi ectively to transfer the pressure of the spring 48 to the clamp 36. The above adjustments having been made, the treadle 80 may then be released, which results in a movement of the operating tools toward the sole edge of the work on the support and the operation of the spring 48 to clamp the lasted shoe placed on the support thereagainst in the manner described hereinbefore. It is to be understood that the lever 232 is also so adjusted that as the operating tools approach the sole edge of the work they are at such an altitude with respect to the tread face of the sole that the guide rolls 196 are substantially in tangential relation with the edge portion of the tread face of the sole. It will now be apparent that, having guided the operating tools in this manner toward the sole edge to be treated, the action of the spring 190 will be sufficient to hold them against the edge of the sole in normal relation therewith. The operator may next adjust the block 168 carrying the operating tools so that the latter engage the'edge of the attaching face of the sole to be operated on when the guide rolls 196 are in engagement with the tread face thereof. A piece of work having been placed on the work support and the operating instrumentalities having been adjusted as above described, the driving mechanism for the work support is actuated by the operation of mechanism connected with the pad 138. Pressure applied by the operator to the pad 138 results in the plunger 132 being withdrawn from engagement with the pin 136, thereby allowing the work support to be moved by the chain 94 which is continually under tension. The work support is then alternately rotated and translated as above described through one cycle to cause the operating tools to make a traverse of the sole edge. The work support and driving mechanism are so constructed and arranged that the periphery of the sole edge is progressively carried past a substantially fixed point and at a constant linear velocity but the pivotal connection of the operating tools on the yoke 188 pivotally mounted in the shaft 98 allows the operating tools to accommodate themselves to the slightly changing heightwise contour of the sole edge and also to the slight concavity of the inner and outer sides of the sole edge.

If upon the first trial the path of the operating tools is not parallel to the edge of the attaching face of the sole in the vicinity of the shank, the ball guides 206 may be adjusted as above described so that the operating tools are raised with respect to the tread surface at the shank portion of the sole which in most cases is considerably thinner than the heel and forepart portions thereof. The motion of the work support is intercepted and each cycle of the machines operation is terminated by the engagement of the pin 136 with the adjacent end of the plunger 132.

The only remaining operation consists in removing the treated shoe from the work support. This operation consists in again depressing the treadle 80, releasing the work on the support and which movement of the treadle, as above described, also causes a retraction of the operating tools from the sole edge. As the operating tools are brought out of contact with the sole edge, however, owing to their weight, the serrated face of the disk 226 is brought into engagement with the pin 228 supported by the disk 230 on the bearing 182 whereby rotation of the bracket 178 with respect to the bearing 182 is prevented. Similarly, the spring 224, abutting the end of the spindle 17 1 on which the operating tools are rotatably mounted on the bracket 178, holds the serrated face of the disk 218 against the pin 220 in the disk 222 whereby the operating tools are also prevented from rotating with respect to the bracket 178 and seesaw hence held when spaced from the work in the same position which they occupied when last in contact with the work edge. It will now be apparent that the o aerating tools may operating tools engage the sole edge normally.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machinefo-r operating on the sole edge of a rubber-soled shoe, an edge treating tool, a support for holding a lasted shoe inoperative relation to said tool, and means for causing a relative 'motion of said tool and the shoe constructed and arranged to transfer the point of contact of the tool and the work about the sole edge at a substantially constant linear velocity. I 1

2. In a machine for operating on the sole edge of a rubber-soled shoe, a tool for closing the sole edge against the upper arranged to be yieldingly urged thereagainst, a support for holding a lasted shoe in operative relation to the tool, and means for causing a relative motion of said tool and the shoe whereby successive portions of the entire sole edge of the shoe are progressively presented to the tool at a substantially constant linear velocity.

3. In a machine for operating on the sole edge of a rubber-soled shoe, an edge treating tool, a support for holding a lasted shoe in operative relation to said tool, and means for moving said support to cause a transfer of the point of contact of the tool with the work about the sole edge thereof at a substantially constant linear velocity;

4. In a machine for operating on the sole edge of a rubber-soled shoe, a tool for closing the/sole edge against the upper arranged to be urged thereagainst with a substantially constant pressure, asupportfor holding a lasted shoein operativerelation to the tool, and means for movingsaid support to cause successive portions 'of the entire sole edge of the shoe to be progressively presented to the tool at a substantially constant linear velocity whereby the sole edge is treated substantially uniformly throughout.

5. A machine for progressively operating on the sole edge of a rubber-soled shoe having a sole edge treating tool, means for supporting a lasted shoe in operative relation tosaid tool, means for causing a thrust between the tool and the shoe in substantially constant direction, and means for causinga relative motion between said tool'and the work Whereby the normal to'the sole edge at the point of operation of the tool thereon and the direc- J tion of thrustof the toolbear substantially the same relation to each otlner during. the

edge treatingoperati on.

6. achlne for progressively operating on the sole edge of a shoe havmg a sole edge treating tool arranged to ex ert a thrust r against the sole, means forsupporting a lasted shoe in operative relation to said tool, and means for operating said supporting means to carry the soleedge of the shoe progresslvely past said tool whereby the normal j to the sole edge at the pointof operation of the tool thereon and the direction of thrustof the tool bear substantially the same relation to each other throu hout the so-letreatin 0 b. V ,r:

eration.

V 7. In a machine for operating on the sole edge of a rubber-soled shoe, a sole-edge treating tool arranged to exert a thrust on the sole edge of a shoe, means for supporting the shoe in operative relation to said tool,

and means for causing the point. ofcontact of the tool and the work to be transferred about the sole edge thereof at a substantially constant linear velocity constructed and arranged to maintain a substantially constant relation between the direction of thrust of the tool and the normals to the sole edge at the point of operation of the tool thereon.

8. A machine for progressively operating on the sole edge of a rubber-soled shoe 1m, ing a sole edge treating tool arranged to exert a thrust on the sole edge, means for supporting the shoe in operative. relation to said tool, and means for so alternately rotating and translating said support that normals to the periphery of the sole at the point of operation of the tool thereon are substantially coincident with the direction of thrust of the tool as the tool is caused progressively to pass along the sole edge.

9. In a machine for operating on soles of rubber-soled shoes, :1 tool arranged to exert a thrust on the sole edge, means for supporting a lasted shoe in operative relation to said tool, means for driving said support arranged for movement in a rectilinear path, and means on said supportin tangential engagement with said driving means and having substantially the same shape as whereby the sole edge of the shoe being operated on is caused to move at a substantially constant linear velocity.

11. In a machine for operating on soles of shoes, a sole edge treating tool mounted and arranged to exert a substantially 1 constant pressure against the sole edge, a support for holding a lasted shoe in operative relation to the tool, and means moving in a rectilinear path constructed and arranged to rotate the work support to present the heel and toe portions of the sole edge to the tool and to translate the support to cause the outer and inner edges of the sole to be presented to the tool atthe same linear velocity as and in alternation with the rotary movements of the support.

12. In a machine for operating on soles of shoes, a sole edge treating tool, a support for a last-ed shoe arranged to hold the sole edge thereof in operative relation to said tool, a feed chain driven at a constant velocity for operating said support progressively to cause a transfer of the point of contact of the tool and the work about the sole edge thereof, and a sprocket on said support engaging with said feed chain tangentially and. having substantially the same configuration as that of the sole being operated on whereby the sole edge is treated by the tool at a substantially constant linear velocity.

13. In a machine for operating on sole edges, a sole edge treating tool, a support for holding the sole edge of a. lasted shoe in operative relation to said tool, and means for moving said support to cause a. transfer of the point of contact of the tool and the work about the sole edge thereof comprising a driving chain and a cooperating sprocket conforming substantially to the configuration of the sole, said sprocket being constructed and arranged to be adjusted to a length equal to the length of the sole being operated on.

14. In a. machine for operating on the sole edge of a shoe, a sole edge treating tool, means for causing said tool to exert a substantially constant thrust on the work, a support for holding the sole edge of a. lasted shoe in operative relation to said tool, means for moving said support constructed and arranged to cause a transfer of the point of contact of the tool and the Work about the sole edge thereof at a substantially constant linear velocity whereby the sole edge is treated substantially uniformly throughout.

15. In a machine for operating on the sole edges of shoes, a tool for operating on the sole edge of a shoe. means for causing the point of contact of the tool and the shoe to be transferred about the sole edge thereof, and means for maintaining the tool in a path. at all points equidistant from the attaching face of the sole constructed and arranged to engage the tread face along a line at distances from the sole edge varying in accordance with changes in the inclination of the tread face margin.

16. In a machine for operating on the sole edges of rubber soled shoes, a tool for closing the sole edge against the adjacent portion of the upper or foxing of a shoe, a tool for indenting the portion of the sole edge treated by said edge closing tool, means for causing the points of contact of the tools with the shoe to be transferred about the sole edge thereof, and a guide constructed and arranged to engage the tread face of the sole along a line at distances fro-m the sole edge varying in accordance with the inclination of the tread face margin whereby the tool caused to move in a path at all points equidistant from the attaching face of the sole.

17. In a machine for operating on the sole edges of rubber soled shoes, a tool for closing the sole edge against the adjacent portion of the upper or foxing of a shoe, an indenting tool, means for transferring the points of contact of the tools with the shoe thereabout in order successively to close and indent all parts of the entire sole edge with one transfer of the tool about the sole edge, a common mounting for said tools arranged to rotate freely about two axes, and means on said mounting adapted for engagement with the tread face of the shoe for positioning said tools with respect to the shoe whereby the tools are caused to operate on the sole edge in a path parallel to the attaching face of the sole.

18. In a machine for operating on the sole edges of shoes, a tool for closing the edge of the sole of a shoe against the adjacent portion of the upper, a movable support for the tool, means for causing the point of contact of the tool and the work to be transferred about the sole edge thereof, and a. guide on said tool support constructed and arranged to hold the tool at a substantially constant distance from the attaching face of the sole and to position the tool in accordance with the inclination of the sole edge at the point of operation of the tool on the shoe.

19. In machine for operating on rubbersoled shoes, a tool for closing the edge of the shoe sole against the adjacent portion of the upper, means for impressing a series of indentations in the edge of the sole treated by said edge closing tool, means for transferring the points of contact of said tool and indenting means and the shoe about the sole edge thereof, and a guide for holding said tool and indenting means at a constant distance from the attaching face of the sole during their operation on the shoe.

20. In a machine for operating on the sole edge of a rubber-soled shoe, a sole edge treating tool, means for causing the point of con tact of thetool and the work to be trans ferred about the sole edge thereof, and means for guiding the tool heightwise of the solo er ge and for urging said tool against the sole edge during the operation of said tool, said guiding means having a surface of revolution each element of which is convex and which at edge of the sole adjacent to-the point of its the point of contact with the Work is disposed obliquely tether-direction of the motion between the tool and the work.

' .21. ,In a machine for operating onthe sole,

to cause a plane through the center of the work engaging fa'ce thereof to be maintained parallel to the. attaching face of the sole adjacent to the point being operatedon irrespective of changes in the longitudinal inclination of the sole edge. 7 or 22. In a machine for operating on the sole edge of a rubber-soled shoe, a rota'tabletool for closing the sole'edge againstthe adjacent portion of the upper, means for causing the point of contact of the tool and shoe to be transferred about the sole edge thereof, thereby rotating said tool,,'and lmeansffor guiding said t-c-ol constructed and'arranged to maintain its axis of rotation perpendicular to the contact with the tool.

23. In a machine for operating on the sole edge. of arubber-soled shoe, a rotatable tool for closing the edge of, the 'sole against the:

adjacent portion of the upper, means for causing the point of contact of the tool and the shoe to be transferred about the sole edge thereof, a guide for-said tool having spaced work engaging surfaces, a pivotally supported mounting for said tool, and means for holding said guide against the tread face of the'sole being operated onf and for holding said tool in abutting relation with the edge thereof,ther'eby to maintain the axis of rotae.

tion of said tool perpendicularto the edge'of the sole'adj acent to the point he'ingeoperatedon irrespective of changes'inthe longitudinal inclination thereof.

24. In a machine. for operating on the sole edge of a. rubber-soled shoe, a tcol for closing the edge of the sole against the adjacent por tion of the upper, a too-lfor impressing a series of indentations in the edge of the sole treated by said closing tool, means for transferring the points of contact of said tools with the shoe about the sole edge thereof, and a guide having spaced Work engaging surfaces constructed and arranged to maintain said tools in a relationofparallelismwith the attaching face of. thesole 1rrespect1ve of variations in the longitudinal inclination of the sole edge.

25., In a machine for operating on the sole edge of'a rubber-soled 'shoe,,a.rotatable tool for. clo'sing'thezedge of the sole againstthe. adjacent portion of th'e upper, 'means ,for transferring the point of contact of theitool and shoeiabout thesole aedgethereof, and:

a guide ;,for' controlling said tool havingrespective :of changes in theinclination of the tread face thereofalong normals to, 1tsl edge at various points along its margin,

26. In a machine for operating on soles of rubber-soled shoes, a tool'for closing the edge of the sole against the adjacent portion ofthe upper, means for transferring the point of contact of the tool and the shoeabout the sole edge thereof, and means for gu1dmg'sa1d tool having a convex surface for elwa 111 the mar in of the shoe sole oo'nstructeda and arranged" to constrain the' tool in a path at all points equidistant from the edge of the attaching face of the sole, ir-

respective of changes of inclination'of the tread face' of thesole' along normals to the edge thereof at various points along its margin 1' i 27. Ina machine for operating on rubber-soled shoes, a tool forclo'sing theedgeof the sole of a shoe against the adjacent portion ofthe upper, a'tool for impressing a series f'of. indentations to imitate stitching in the portionzof the sole 'edge treatedrby said edge closing tool,means for'transfer-a ringthe point'of contact'of said'tools with the shoe about the: sole edge thereof, and

means for guidingthe tools having a sur-' face" of revolution all elements of which are convexly curved constructed and arranged to constrain the "tool in a path at all points equidistant from the attaching face of thesole, irrespective of changes cranes-nation of thetrea'd face ofthe'sole aldng normals to "the edge thereof at various points along; ,f'

the margin thereof;

1' 28.f In ,amach ine"for operating on shoes, a sole edgertreating tool, 'means for transferring the point of contactof the tool with the shoeabout the sole edgeithe reof, means. for guidingthe tool whereby its path is at" all points equidistant from the-attaching face of the sole,v and a mountingfor said tool constructed and arranged yieldingly tof holdlsaid-tool in a normal position. j

29.111 a machine for operating on shoes, as ole edgetreating tool, meaiis for transfer ring the point of cont-actof the 501? with the. shoe about the sole edge-z thereofga support for thetool comprisingfa pivoted lever and y ld n m ans gag said llsrs e as d to hold said tool in ,a predetermined normallr 'om. nd ea s said; PP9 ..--f ding; he "t ara h on thev o e: edge;

2t all points equidistant from the attaching ace.

30. In a machine for operating on rubbersoled shoes, a tool for closing the sole edge of a shoe against the adjacent portion of the upper, means for transferring the point of contact of the tool and the shoe about the sole edge thereof, and means for controlling the tool whereby its path is at all points equidistant from the attaching face of the sole, said tool being arranged to be resiliently held spaced from said controlling means at a-distance substantially equal to the thickness of the sole being operated on.

31. In a machine for operating on shoes, a tool for operating on the sole edge of a shoe, means for transferring the point of contact of the tool with the shoe about the sole edge thereof, a mounting for said tool constructed and arranged to allow it to accommodate itself to changes in contour of the sole edge during its relative movement thereabout, means for retracting said operating tool from the edge of the work at the completion of said relative movement, and means for holding said operating tool when removed from the work in the same position with respect to the mounting which it occupied when last in contact with the work.

32. In a machine for operating on the sole edge of a rubber-soled shoe, a tool for closing the edge of the attaching face of the sole against the adjacent portion of the upper, means for transferring the point of contact of the tool with the shoe about the sole edge thereof, means for guiding said tool in a path at all points equidistant from the attaching face of the sole, and a mounting for said tool arranged to pivot about an axis substantially parallel to the tread face of the sole, whereby the path of said tool may be maintained in a line parallel to the attaching face of the sole.

33. In a machine for operating on the sole edge of a rubber-soled shoe, a tool for operating on the sole edge of the shoe, means for transferring the point of contact of the tool with the shoe about the sole edge thereof, a support for said tool allowing it to rotate about two perpendicular axes, guiding means for holding said tool in operative relation to the sole edge, means for retracting said tool from the edge of the sole upon the comple tion of their relative movement, and means for preventing movement of said tool about either of said perpendicular axes when in retracted position. I

34. In a machine for operating on shoes, a sole edge treating tool, means for transferring the point of contact of the tool with the shoe about the sole edge thereof, means for supporting said tool in operative relation to the sole edge comprising a mounting arranged for rotation about a plurality of axes, means adapted for engagement with said support to remove the tool from the sole edge after it has been operated upon, and means rendered operable upon the separation of the tool from the work to prevent rotation of said mounting about any of its axes when the tool is retracted from the sole edge.

35. In a machine for operating on shoes, a sole edge treating tool, a mounting for the tool arranged to allow it to rotate about an axis extending substantially in the direction of the plane of the sole, a support for said mounting arranged to allow the latter to rotate about an axis substantially perpendicular to the first-mentioned axis, said tool being freely rotatable about each of said axes when in operative relation to the shoe, and separate means for preventing rotation both between said tool and said mounting and between said mounting and said support when said tool is retracted from the work.

36. In a machine for operating on shoes, an edge treating tool, a shoe support, means adapted for engagement with the tread face of the sole for positioning the tool with respect to the sole edge of a shoe on the sup port and for limiting the position of the tool heightwise of the sole, a support for the tool movable toward and from the shoe in directions both in and perpendicular to the plane of the sole, means acting on said support for urging said guiding means against the tread face of the sole and said tool against the sole edge, and means movable into engagement with said tool support for moving the tool away from the sole edge constructed and arran ed to suspend the tool upon being removed from the sole edge at the same heightwise position with respect to the tread face that it occupied when in contact with the sole.

37. In a machine for operating on shoes, an edge treating tool, a shoe support, a support for said tool arranged to allow movement of the tool toward and away from the shoe on the support both in and perpendicular to the plane of the tread face of the shoe, means adapted for engagement with the tread face of the sole for positioning the tool heightwise of the sole edge, means acting upon said support for holding said tool in operative relation to the sole edge, means arranged for movement into engagement with said support and to operate said support to retract the tool from the sole edge, and cooperating surfaces on said support for the tool and said last-mentioned means constructed and arranged to prevent substantial relative heightwise displacement therebetween when they are in engagement with each other.

38. In a machine for operating on shoes, an edge treating tool, a shoe support, a support for said tool arranged to allow movement of the tool toward and away from a. shoe in said support both in and perpendicular to the plane of the tread face of the shoe, means adapted for engagement with the tread face lemme.

of-the sole for positioning the tool :heightwise of the sole edge, means acting upon said sup port for holdingsaid tool inoperativerelaments on said support for the tool and-said.

last-mentioned means constructed and arranged to prevent substantial relative height wise displacement therebetween when they are in engagement with eachother.

39. In a machine for operating on shoes, an edge treating tool, a shoe support, a-support for said tool arranged to allow movement of the tool toward and from a shoe in said support both in and perpendicular to the plane of the tread face of theshoe, means adapted for engagement with the tread face of: the

sole for positioning the tool heightwise of the sole edge, means acting upon said support for holding said tool in operative relation to the sole. edge, an operator-controlled lever arranged for movement into engagement with said support and to operate said support to retract the tool from the sole edge, and cooperatingnon-slip ping connections on the supportand said lever whereby the tool when retracted from the sole edge is support ed in the same heightwise position with respect to the sole edge that it occupies when in operative position thereto. g I

40. In a machine for operating on shoes,

a shoe support, an edge treating tool, a sup port for said tool arranged to allow movement of the tool towardand away from a shoe on said support both in and perpendicular to the'plane of the tread face of the shoe, means adapted for engagement with the tread face of the sole for positioning the tool heightwise of theso-le edge, means acting. upon said support for holding said tool in operative: relation to the sole edge, an operatorecontrolled lever: arranged-for movement intoengagementwith said. support and to operatesaid support to retract the tool from the sole edge,;and cooperating toothed abut-- ments on the support and. said lever where by, the tool when retracted from the soleedge is supported in the same heightwise position with respect to the sole edge that it occupies when in operative relation thereto. I

41.. In amachine for operatingion rubbersoled shoes the shank portionof the soles of 9 which are appreciably thinner thanthe fore andheel-partportions thereof, a tool for closingthe edge of the-attaching face of the sole against the adjacent portion of theupper, meansfor maintaining said toolin a path at all points equidistantfrom the attaching face of the sole comprising a pair of. guides arrangedto operate when'passing. the fore and heel-part portions of thesole,1and a pairof auxiliary guides arranged relatively to move said tool and the treadzfacepf thei sol'e at the shank thereoftoward each'other in accordance with the diminution in'its' thickness at the shank portion.

42. In a machine for operating on rubbersoled shoes, a support for a shoe, means for operating on the lower margin of the shoe, means for relatively moving the shoe and operating-means at a'substantially constant linear velocity to cause the point of operation of the operating means to be transferred about the margin of the shoe, means for rotatably supporting said operating means whereby it may rotate about two axes which are at an angle to each other,and means tending to rotate said operating means about said axes to maintain. said operating means in' contact with the shoe, margin.

43. In a machine for operating on rubbersoled shoes, a support fora shoe, means for operating on the lower margin of the shoe, means for relatively moving the shoe and said operating means to cause thepointof'operation of the operating means tobetransferred about themargin of the shoe, a carrier for the operatin means pivotallymounted about two axes which are at'an angle to each other, and means tending'to swing said carrier'about said axes to maintain the operating means in contactwith the margin of the shoe.

4g... In a machine soled shoes, a support for a shoe, means for operating on the lower marginof the shoe adjacent to the'bottom thereof, said support and said operating means bein relatively movable tocause a transfer of the point of' operation of the operating means about the margin of the shoe, means for supporting said operating means in contact with the shoe margin,an-d means for urging said operating. means against the margin of the'shoe and heightwise of the sole to maintain the operating meansin contact with the shoe margln. I

45. In a machine for operating on rubbersoled shoes, a support for a shoe, means for operating on the lower margin of theshoe,

meansfor causing the point of operation of l the operating means to be transferred about the shoe margin, a support forthe operating means constructed and arranged to allow the operating means to move both heightwise of "soled shoes, a support fora shoe, means for operating on the lower margin of the shoe,

means for causing relative movement between the shoe and said operating means whereby its point of contact is'transferred" aboutthe shoe margin, a carrier for the op;

- crating: means pivotally' mounted abeut two' for operating on rubheraxes which are substantially parallel and perpendicular, respectively, to the plane of the sole of the shoe, and means connected to said carrier for yieldingly maintaining the operating means in contact with the shoe margin.

47. In a machine for operating on rubbersoled shoes, a support for a shoe, means for operating on the lower margin of the shoe, means for causing relative movement between the shoe and said operating means whereby its point of contact is transferred about the shoe margin, a carrier for the operating means pivotally mounted about two axes which are substantially parallel and perpendicular, respectively, to the plane of the sole of the shoe, means connected to said carrier for yieldingly maintaining the operating means in contact with the shoe margin, and means adapted for engagement with the bottom of the shoe for limiting the movement of the carrier about its axis parallel to the plane of the sole.

48. In a machine for operating on rubbersoled shoes, a support for a shoe, means. for operating upon the margin of the shoe adj acent to the bottom thereof, means for rotating the support to cause the point of operation of the operating means to be transferred about the toe and heel portions of the shoe and for translating the support between said rotations to cause the point of operation of the operating means to be transferred along the side portions of the shoe, means for supporting the operating means for movement toward and from the shoe margin and heightwise of the shoe, and yielding means for maintaining the operating means in contact with the shoe margin.

49. In a machine for operating on rubbersoled shoes, a support for a shoe, a tool for operating on the shoe in a locality adjacent to the bottom thereof, means for rotating the shoe support to cause the tool to operate on the heel and toe portions of the shoe margin and for translating the support between said rotations to cause the tool to operate on the side portions of the shoe margin, means for urging the tool against the margin of the shoe, means for urging the tool heightwise of the sole of the shoe, and means engaging the bottom of the shoe to limit the extent of said heightwise movement.

50. In a machine for operating on shoes, a sole edge treating tool, a support for a shoe comprising means constructed and arranged normally to exert a jacking pressure on a shoe thereon, means for moving said support to cause the point of operation of the tool on the sole edge to be transferred thereabout, means for retracting said tool from the sole edge at the completion of a feeding movement of the Work, and means operating simultaneously with the last-mentioned means for relieving the jacking pressure on the shoe.

51. In a machine for operating on shoes, a

sole edge treating tool, a support for a shoe arranged to be moved progressively to present an edge thereof to the tool, said support comprising a slide arranged to exert a jacking pressure for holding a shoe on the support, means for operating said slide to relieve the jacking pressure on the shoe, driving means in engagement with said support tending constantly to impart a feeding movement thereto, and means for arresting the feeding movement of said support when said slide and said slide operating means are in operative relation.

In a machine for operating on shoes, a sole edge treating tool, a shoe support comprising a slide arranged to exert a jacking pressure for holding a shoe on the support, driving means engaging said support and tending constantly to impart a feed movement thereto, means for operating said slide to relieve the jacking pressure on the shoe, means for arresting the movement of said work support when said slide and said slide operating means are in operative relation, and operator-controlled means for rendering said arresting means inoperative to allow the work support to move to present successive portions of the shoe progressively to the tool.

In a machine for operating on shoes, a sole edge treating tool, a support for a shoe comprising a spring-influenced slide ar ranged normally to exert a jacking pressure for holding a shoe on the support, means tending constantly to move said support to cause the shoe to be presented progressively to the tool, a plunger mounted to slide toward and from said work support, a stop for arresting the feeding movement of the work support when said plunger and slide are in alinement, and means for operating said plunger to relieve the jacking pressure on the shoe.

54. In a machine for operating on shoes, a sole edge treating tool, a shoe support comprising a jacking device arranged to exert a clamping pressure on a shoe on the support, means for supporting said tool in operative relation to the sole edge of the shoe, driving means engaging said support for causing feeding movement of the sole edge past the tool, means for operating said jacking device to relieve the clamping pressure on the shoe, a stop for arresting movement of the work support when the jacking device and jack operating means are in operative relation, and operator-controlled means for simultaneously retracting said tool from the sole edge and for actuating said jack operating device whereby the clamping pressure on the shoe is relieved.

55. In a machine for operating upon rubber-soled shoes, a tool adapted for operating upon the foxing area of a shoe, a support for a shoe, means for operating said support so as to present successive portions of the foxing area of the shoe to the tool, said support comprising a heel clamp arranged to grip the shoe, a movable bar carried by said support for operating said clamp, and means 5 for releasing said clamp comprising an operator-controlled plunger arranged for movegiant into and out of engagement with said 56. In a machine for operating upon rubher-soled shoes, a tool adapted for treating the foxing area of a shoe, a shoe support, means for operating said support so as to present successive portions of the foxing area of the shoe to the tool, said support comprising means arranged to grip the heel end of the shoe to hold it against the support, a yieldingly operated bar connected to said heel gripping means, andmeans movable into engagement with said bar and in opposition to the yielding pressure thereof for releasin said gripping means thereby to unjack t e shoe on the support. I

57. In a machine for operating upon rubher-soled shoes, a tool adapted for treating the foxing area of a shoe,.a supportfor a shoe, means for operating said support from a work-receiving position progressively to present successive portions of the foxing area 7 of the shoe to the tool, a clamp adapted for" an engagement with the heel portion of the shoe arranged to hold the shoe on the support, a spring arranged yieldingly to urge the clamp against the shoe, connections between said clamp and spring, and aplunger mounted for movement into engagement with one element of said connections and to move said clamp away from the shoe against the yielding pressure of said spring thereby to rea lease the shoe on the support.

58. In a machine for operating on rubbersoled shoes, a tool adapted for operating on the foxing areaof a shoe, a support for a shoe, means for holding a shoe on the support comprising a clamp movable into and 45 out of engagement with the heel portion of the shoe, means for operating said support in order to present successive portions of the foxing area of the shoe to the tool, a bar for operating said clamp, a spring acting upon said bar to cause the clamp to be urged against the shoe, and a plunger for operating said bar arranged to slide into andv out of engagement therewith.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 55 name to this specification.

ERNEST w. STACEY. 

